Welcome to Thursday’s Morning Mashup. For the latest news, start at our WEEI.com home page or click here for the top stories from our news wire.
THURSDAY’S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:
NHL: Islanders at Bruins, 7 p.m. (NESN)
NFL: Chargers at Broncos, 8:25 p.m. (CBS, NFL Network; WEEI-FM)
College football: UConn at East Carolina, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
College football: Miami at Virginia Tech, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
Soccer: UEFA Europa, Everton at Lille, 1 p.m. (FS1)
Soccer: UEFA Europa, Tripoli at Tottenham, 3 p.m. (FS1)
AROUND THE WEB:
— NHL players and teams expressed their thoughts and support for Ottawa after Wednesday’s terrorist attack on the Parliament building in Canada’s capital.
Wednesday night’s game between the Senators and Maple Leafs in the Ottawa suburb of Kanata was postponed following the shooting, which left a soldier and the suspect dead.
“We are shocked and deeply saddened by today’s tragic events on Parliament Hill and in downtown Ottawa,” Senators owner Eugene Melnyk said in a statement Wednesday afternoon. “Our collective thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims as well as with all members of Parliament and staff who have had to manage through today’s difficult circumstances.
“Hockey is certainly secondary to these types of tragic events and we know our fans stand alongside us with the league’s decision to postpone tonight’s game.”
The Maple Leafs were staying at a hotel near where the violence took place. According to reports, a man walked up to a soldier standing guard at a war memorial and shot him dead, then walked inside Parliament, where more shots were fired before he was killed.
Tweeted Leafs forward Joffrey Lupul at the time: Surreal scene outside of our hotel right now. Lot of very brave police officers we should all be very proud of.
Said the Maple Leafs in a statement: “We have been witness today to some terrible events but are thankful to those brave men and women for their tireless service in protecting everyone’s safety.”
The Senators, who were supposed to play the Bruins on the day of the Boston Marathon attacks in April 2013 (that game was postponed), next play at home Saturday against the Devils.
Tweeted Senators defenseman Chris Phillips: Heartfelt thanks to all first responders for putting their safety on the line for ours. OttawaStrong.
Before Wednesday’s Penguins-Flyers game in Pittsburgh, fans sang the Canadian national anthem out of respect.
— Jets coach Rex Ryan is enduring a miserable season at 1-6, but he definitely hasn’t lost his sense of humor.
Ryan walked in on the New York media’s conference call with Bills wide receiver Sammy Watkins on Tuesday, en route to his daily press conference, and he decided to pose as a reporter and ask Watkins a question in advance of the teams’ game Sunday.
Watkins, a rookie from Clemson, played alongside Ryan’s son, Seth, last season. So Ryan asked Watkins: “How did you help Seth Ryan out? How’d he do out there? And if you could really help him, you wouldn’t play this game.”
Ryan then added: “This sounds like Rex Ryan — I know it does — but this is a reporter.”
Watkins did not appear to catch on to the joke, even after Ryan said: “How you doing, Sammy? You all right?”
— Bryan Stow, the Giants fan who suffered permanent brain damage after being beaten outside Dodger Stadium on Opening Day in 2011, joked around and moved without assistance during an interview that aired Wednesday morning on ESPN.
Stow has showed dramatic progress after nearly dying from injuries sustained in the attack. He used a walker but did not require support.
“I want to run,” he said. “I want to walk, like a normal person.”
While the 45-year-old former paramedic still requires around-the-clock care, his family is pleasantly surprised with how far he’s come.
Said Stow’s father, Dave: “We didn’t think he would be this mobile or vocal. He can sit and have dinners with is. He’s very funny.”
Two Dodgers fans, Louie Sanchez and Marvin Norwood, pleaded guilty to attacking Stow. Sanchez is serving an eight-year prison sentence while Norwood got four years.
Stow said he remembers going to the game but not what happened in the parking lot. His parents said they told him about it after he requested to know.
“Well, had I known, I would have turned to see the guy running at me and ready to clock my block, you know,” Stow said.
ON THIS DAY TRIVIA (answer below): On Oct. 23, 2004, the Red Sox opened the World Series with a 9-7 victory over the Cardinals after squandering a 7-2 lead. Who hit the game-winning two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning?
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “[That’s] between me and coach. Talk to him about it.” — Patriots cornerback Darrelle Revis, asked if the report was true that he overslept and showed up late to Tuesday’s practice and was told to go home
STAT OF THE DAY: 1,500 — Approximate number of athletes believed to be connected to an academic scandal at the University of North Carolina over a span of almost 20 years
‘NET RESULTS (mobile users, check the website to see the videos): Giants reliever Hunter Strickland yells at Royals catcher Salvador Perez after allowing a home run, later admitting, “My emotions got to me. … Obviously I want to handle it a little bit better.”
New Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl takes over a marketing class for a an impromptu pep rally.
A 90-year-old woman known as Grandma Nelly challenges Dwyane Wade to a game of 1-on-1, and the Heat star agrees.
Little League star Mo’ne Davis stars in a Chevy commercial directed by Spike Lee. The NCAA said she can be paid and still be eligible because she’s not yet in high school.
TRIVIA ANSWER: Mark Bellhorn
SOOTHING SOUNDS: Weird Al Yankovic was born on this day in 1959.